Pale and droopy

[Mollisol]

Ok so I know these look over watered. These two are in 5 gal fabric. And getting watered every 3 or 4 days, when I can feel the pot is light.

I've been following the FF feed schedule plus calmag at 1/2 strength. I changed to 2/3 strength about week ago. I wanted to push the Nitrogen up. And no change so far.

I'm still in Veg. So it's not critical. But I really want to get them healthy so I can flip them.

[OldManGrower]

Dude you have ph issues as well. Fix the PH and the nutrients will take care of themselves.

[Mollisol]

I actually had not thought of that. I have not calibrated my Ph meter in quite a while. And it's a cheap meter. That very well be what's messing me up!

[kingfish]

Mollisol, screw the meter and get some Litmus paper. they never fail.

[User420111]

Forget the meters and forget the papers. This is what you need. Ad it right to the water you feed the plants with.

https://www.amazon.com/ph-up-down/s?k=ph+up+and+down

[Ckbrew]

Second verse, same as the first. So many grows go astray due to pH issues. pH meters are a pita. Calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, especially the cheap meters. I suggest pH papers, much easier, no calibration needed. Get that back on track and you will be on your way to recovery. Hang in there.

[Bluey]

Raise your pH a couple of points immediately and watch them change for the better.

[No3odiesShad0w]

Fox farm soils trend to run acidic. I've had some give me 4.0 pH. You need a buffer in the soil beyond just phing the water. Ag lime would be the fastest fix. Without adding extra magnesium. 1Tbsp per gallon of medium. It works better when you mix in with the soil initially but you can definitely mix it in the topsoil and you'll always water some in with each watering.

Mixing FF nutrients which are acidic with their already acidic soil is the reason they look sad. It's the pH for sure. I struggled with their acidity issues for 2.5 years before I gave up on them.

[Mollisol]

No3odiesShad0w I have a 20 lbs bag of diatomaceous earth. I've read it can be mixed with soil and acts as a buffer. Do you think that will help?

[No3odiesShad0w]

Not in the amount that you need no. It's better for silica than for pH correction. It can help.... It's better than biting but not the solution.

[Mollisol]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I calibrated the cheap meter. And hopefully my water pH was truly 6.5.

I ordered a higher end meter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01ENFOIQE?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

I'll let you guys know if it is awesome or if it totally sucks. Lol.

[Sixwinds]

I have that exact PH pen, it's awesome!

[Bluey]

Make sure you add the 3 pack calibration fluid and the storage fluid to your order. The 250ml size ones should do you.

[Bowhunterwoody]

I have that one too. Plus the cal and storage liquids. Solid calibration.

[Mollisol]

That's good news guys. And thanks Bluey. I had not thought about extra cal and storage chemicals.

The plants look noticeably happier today. Yesterday's nute mix pH must have been pretty close. I watered/fed with significant run off. Hoping to bring the soil pH into range.

[Bluey]

You'll be checking the pH daily. That sensor if well looked after should last 1 to 2 years so wash it in distilled or RO or rainwater if you can before putting into storage solution. Do the 3 point calibration on it as per the instructions inside the lid. Once a month should be fine on a new sensor. As it ages more often. Knowing exactly where your pH is and how your plant leaves are progressing re nutes and health makes a big difference cause you can dial it right in depending on what it needs.

It's taken me till this grow number four to work out where the sweet spot is for pH through the grow. It is specific to your nutes and medium and genetics and its something you learn as each grow improves a bit

[Mollisol]

You know what is super cool about this forum? Often the solution to the problem is right in front of my nose. I just can't see it until someone else points it out to me.

[Mollisol]

I'm still reading the instructions and have not used the meter yet. But I'm already impressed. Definitely a whole different ball game. Compared to my $14 meter!

[Bluey]

Look after it!

It will lift your grows heaps both health wise, yields will go up up up, and they will develop faster, and best of all, make for awesome photos here in the forum.

[No3odiesShad0w]

I have the apera ph20 meter. 2 years and still going strong 💪. Best investment.... Even though I don't use it much anymore.

[Mollisol]

I honestly got really lazy on the pH checking. When I mixed up water or nutes. I knew about how much pH down I needed to get me to 6.5. So I just added that. Lol... I was probably way off.

[Bluey]

I test every batch which means I need to use it 3 times a day. I couldn't successfully grow without it.